Drill team finds space on senior care campus

SARASOTA - A lack of space at the Sarasota Military Academy was causing problems for the drill team. But they found a new place to practice down the street in an unusual location.

Every week, the drill team from the Sarasota Military Academy marches down Orange Avenue and into the courtyard of The Pines senior care campus.

Pines CEO John Overton says the arrangement began after a chance conversation. "One of the staff members of the Pines mentioned their child was a member of the Sarasota Military Academy drill team, and they needed a place to do their drills, and I said, 'Hey, we got the space!'", Overton said.

Construction back at the school has pinched the drill team--but now they have a nice field at the Pines.

Overton says the arrangement makes everyone happy. "When the folks come out to do their drills, you see a large crowd out here, I popped in one day and saw the ice cream truck and the residents were eating with members of the drill team and it was a very touching sight."

The drill team performs at parades around Sarasota on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.